Washing-machine



UIT S T. C.` BENTEEN AND H. W. ZIMMERMAN, 'OF' PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 4,162, dated August 26, 1845.

To all whom t may concern:

y Be it known that we, T. C. BENTEEN and H. WV. ZIMMERMAN, of the town of Petersburg and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Machine for lashing Clothes, called the Suction Washing-Ma- "chine; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact account and description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a transverse section, the several parts of which are as follows, viz: C, R, Q, R, O, repres'entsthe bok or tub; B B are two longitudinal bars of wood called wing holders to which the wings C, C,

are attached by hinges; F is the piston 7, (which we attached to the block D, D, call the double forked lever block by a pin; this block is supportedby two upright i pieces called fork supporters one of which is shown at G; E E are two triangular levers moving on brass pivots in the block D D, and also on the backs of the wings C C; H is a horizontal beam, somewhat of a triangular shape, to afford a foundation for the supporters Gr &c., and also to strengthen the machine; the wings C C are made hollow from the lower edges upward as far as S S- and covered with a strip of sheet zinc on the inner side; a full view of one of these wings is shown by Fig. 5, when the inside of the wing is drawn with the strip of zinc taken o in order to show t-he cavity or hollow part within; it will be seen by reference to this ligure, that a row of holes l, 2, 3, &c., opens a communication from the outsideof the wing to the hollow chamber A, B, the use of which, will be shown presently; this chamber, when the whole area from A to B is covered by the sheet Zinc, is open nowhere but at the lower edge C and the outlet through the row of holes; D, D, are the hinges by which the wing is hung to the wing supporter, and E Eare the brass loops which serve to connect the wing to the triangular lever. But to return to Fig. l, L L are two triangular blocks or battens (similar ones being at the other end of the machine) to which are attached the semicylindrical rods l 2 3, 1 9. 3, having small spaces between each two of them; M M are two narrow boards fastened to the battens, and perforated with numerous holes as seen at M Fig. 2; N N are pieces iXed on the tops of the Vbattens to prevent the water from being thrown out, and are therefore called break pieces `P is a tennon on the piston F, to which the lever W Fig. 2 is attached by a pin, for working the machine; R K Q K R is the bottom, formed of an entire sheet of Zinc, and curved so that the wings C C will lit it in any position. Now by pushing down the piston F, the block D D is made to slide down the supporters G &c. (there being notches in it tofit the supporters) thereby causing the triangular levers E E to diverge, thley in their turn forcing the wings C C to [move from Q, toward R R; consequently by raising the piston', the wings return to Q; thus the washing is carried on; for if the clothes to be washed are placed in the spaces S M, S M, and the piston be forced down, the clothes will be compressed against therboards M M and the rods l, 2, 3, &c.; the water escaping on that side through the holes in the boards and the openings between the rods; and on the other side filling the hollow compartments in the wings through the before mentioned row of holes; but the instant the wings begin to retire, the centrifugal force produced by their circular motion will cause the water to how from the chambers through the opening "at their lower edge, thereby producing a partial vacuum in the spaces above, about the region of the row of holes, this vacuum induces the clothes to "stick to the holes for 'a little while, with sufhcient force to cause them to be drawn out and opened at every stroke of the machine; the smooth metallic bottom also materially assisting the operation; thus a new surface is continuallyT presented for the action of the water.

Fig. 2 is an isometric drawing of a part of the machine, O Z O representing two sides of the boX or tub; H H the beam, into which are `mortised the supporters G Gr; the other ends of them are made to fit in mortises cut in the piece Gr Fig. 8, and are rounded on their edges to fit in the semi-circular grooves in the block D D, which slides up and down upon them. F is the piston, attached to the block D D by a pin through X; E E are the two triangular levers, pivoted to the block D D by the brass loops Y Y; C C is one of the wings (the other being omitted in the drawing,) supported by and hinged to the vbar B B, and pivoted to the lever E E by the loops V V; L is the triangular batten', to which are attached the board M and the semicylindrical rods 23 et, the whole being surmounted by the break piece N N; R R, is the Zinc bottom formed into two circular arcs having the wing C C for radius; a, d, e, are arches or openings cut through the beam for the purpose of keeping the water at the same level on both sides of it; W is the lever for working the machine and P is its fulcrum.

Fig. 3 is a drawing of the suction washing machine entire; 1 2 3 &c., are the feet on which it stands; A A are two doors on the top, which lit closely, being hinged one on either side; the doors when opened are thrown back upon the supports B &c., which are made to shut up and open similar to the same appendages when fixed to a dining table to support the leaves; the inside of the doors when open afford convenient places whereon to soap or otherwise prepare the clothes for washing; F F are two buttons for opening the doors and for fastening them when closed; C is the lever, D the piston, E the fulcrum and G Gr are holes, stopped by plugs, for letting out the water.

Fig. t is an appendage to the machine for the purposey of connecting it with any rotary motion force; it consists of a crank A A working in a slot C, in the piston B, and supported by the pieces E E; in the lower part of the slot C through which the crank passes is a strong zigzag spring D adjustable to various heights by screws (not shown) F is a wheel or drum on the crank shaft to connect it with the motive power. This appendage is fixed to the washing machine by removing the piston F, the lever W and the fulcrum P, Fig. 2, and screwing on the supports E E to the sides of the box, also connecting the piston B to the block D D Fig. 2. Now by turning the crank, the

then taken out piece by piece and laid on the open doors of the machine, half on each side; the parts most soiled are then to be well soaped, and the pieces, one by one, laid smoothly in the machine (not rolled up) taking care to divide the clothes, as to bulk, as nearly as may be, into the two sides of the machine; (although one side may be used without the otherg) now pour into the machine very hot water, mixed with a little good lye, nearly enough to cover the clothes. Everything being thus prepared, if the lever be moved up and down briskly for a few minutes, say from 10 to 15, the clothes will be well washed, they requiring nothing more after this process but to be rinsed in clean water, which may likewise be done in the machine.

Vhat we claim, is-

rlhe manner in which we construct the wash board, so as to eect a partial vacuum within its lower portion by centrifugal action in the manner and for the purpose above described.

T. C. BENTEEN. H. W. ZIMMERMAN.

Attest:

Lnwis LUNSFORD, JAMES E. WoLrr. 

